I telephoned their helpline twice to report the locked gate - and the inadequate signage - I got to the top of the stairs yesterday morning in the dark before realising the thing was locked.
Interestingly no-one has called back.
On two points - the manager who authorised locking the gate on Platform 2 during operational hours should have done a risk assessment on the impact of the closure. Had that been done effectively it would have been difficult to come to any conclusion other that that the platform would have to have station staff present on the platform to provide immediate assistance in the event of an emergency (say a train fire) and evacuation of Platform 2 became necessary. Any disabled person, partly sighted or mother with baby would have to negotiate the footbridge unaided otherwise and that is an unacceptably high risk.
It is not manned and there is no end-of platform run-off or evacuation point that is sign-posted So what did the manager's risk assessment achieve ?
On the point of permanent closure, UK railways are strictly regulated, and the manager cannot unilaterally elect to close the gate permanently without getting prior permission of the Regulator using a process which involves a phase of passenger consultation.
Appallingly poor passenger care - watch this space.